Bios

EDDIE MARKS, President

Eddie Marks began his costuming career in 1965 at MGM Studios. He went freelance after three years, and eventually became the Costume Supervisor on the hit TV series “Streets of San Francisco,” starring Karl Malden and Michael Douglas. In 1987, Eddie received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Costuming for a Mini Series or Special for his work on the CBS-MOW “Shakedown on Sunset Strip,” a 1950’s L.A. crime drama. He served as Costume Supervisor on an impressive list of films, including “Melvin and Howard,” “Taps,” “All the Right Moves,” “Revenge of the Nerds,” “Christmas Vacation,” “Dead Poets Society,” and “Postcards From the Edge.”

Like so many Western employees, Eddie’s first association with the company came when he utilized its services as a costumer. In 1989, he was hired as Senior Vice President, and two years later was promoted to President of the company.

During Eddie’s twenty-plus years as President, Western has grown into one of the largest and most prestigious costume houses in the world. Eddie supervised the company’s 1992 massive move from Melrose Avenue to its current location on Vanowen Street in North Hollywood. He has overseen the growth of Western’s uniform department, as well as acquired some of America’s most admired private clothing collections for Western’s stock. A member of Local 705, Eddie has also volunteered his time serving on the Motion Picture Costumers Union Executive Board, where he helped negotiate contracts between producers and costumers.

Married to Debby in 1977, they have two boys, Branden and Garrett. Branden is a third generation costumer and Garrett a producer. They also have a grandson named, Aiden.

In 1982, Debby and Eddie started a rental wardrobe trailer business called, “Rag Van Rentals,” which they still operate today.

FRANK ALLEGRO, Executive Vice President and Uniform Dept Manager

When Eddie Marks was building his Western Costume team, he knew exactly who to hire as his second-in-command: industry veteran Frank Allegro.

Frank spent twelve years working at Costume Rentals Corporation, where he rose in the ranks to become President of the company. Eighteen years ago, Eddie Marks lured him over to Western. In addition to his duties as Executive Vice President, Frank runs Western Costume’s highly regarded Uniform Department. Under his sure eye, the Uniform Department underwent a $2 million expansion, making it the largest in the country – and the best.

“What makes it unique is our ability to keep up with modern-day military and police uniforms,” Frank explains. “There’s constant change, which makes it a challenge. But we have the ability to get things right when we recreate the past. We know how to acquire the proper uniforms and all the parts that go with them – the correct insignia, the medals, all of the important ribbons. We make sure it’s historically correct, which is very important.”

The results of Frank’s attention to detail can be seen in films like “The Alamo,” “Battleship,” and “G.I. Joe,” and in TV shows like “Castle,” “Southland,” and many more.

MONICA ALLEGRO, Purchasing Agent

Monica Allegro, head of Western’s Purchasing Department, describes herself as a “detective using her years of research skills and a vast network of resources to find the unfindable.”

Prior to purchasing in the costuming business, Monica was a purchaser in the highly demanding aerospace industry. Need gold buttons for a lady’s dress, circa 1900, London? No problem for Monica compared to securing parts for the space shuttle.

Monica joined Western in 1994 and has made an industry name for herself as a buyer who will virtually go to the ends of the earth to satisfy her customers. When the film, “Tropic Thunder” needed eight identical Hmong jackets, Monica found them through a source in Southeast Asia. In 2004, Western was tasked with creating historically accurate uniforms for Disney's film, “The Alamo,” “I found a gentleman who’s a part-time archeologist and had just located authentic pieces from the Mexican Army uniforms right in his Texas backyard,” shares Monica. “He was kind enough to overnight me the findings from his dig and we had these recreated to the actual dimensions.” Where else in L.A. can a costumer find a buyer who works such purchasing magic?

NANCY ARROYO, Women's Made-to-Order

Under the guidance of Head Cutter/Fitter, Nancy Arroyo, Western Costume’s Women’s Workroom has become legendary among fashion and costume designers for its brilliance at building exquisite custom-made clothing.

Nancy trained at Instituto Oviedo in her native Ecuador. She has spent her entire thirty-year career at Western, where her incomparable eye for detail has made her the go-to seamstress for some of the film industry’s finest garments as well as high-fashion pieces that decorate the spring and fall fashion runways. Nancy also welcomes the public to take advantage of her extraordinary skills. Whether it’s costuming a superstar or building a debutante’s ball gown, “Whatever the customer wants, we’re happy to do it,” says Nancy.

BOBBI CONSTANTINE, Operations Manager

Bobbi Constantine has spent over twenty four years at Western Costume, making our customers jobs as easy as possible.

Bobbi's background is in accounting and business operation management. Bobbi started in Western's Accounts Payable and Payroll division and assisted the CEO. She then became the key person at the cash reception desk, which greatly benefited from her accounting background, organization skills, as well as her emphasis on customer service, which has always been a top priority.

Her diverse experience is also a boon to customers. As Operations Manager, Bobbi handles calls from clients who's needs are for our civilian costumes. These clients can be local, out of state or out of the country. Her inquiries are costumers, stylists, photographers, advertising and casting agencies, event planners, private rentals and all industry related personnel. Bobbi says, "I am able to assist our customers with their accounts, placing their orders and quoting out jobs. I see the orders through from A to Z, to when the order is placed to when it goes out the door." Our experienced costuming staff are assigned by her with inventory checks, fittings and pulling orders.

Bobbi and Western Costume Company's recent costumers have been a part of Orange is The New Black, LA Bachelor's Ball, American Horror Story, Vampire Diaries, The Originals, Once Upon A Time, Boardwalk Empire, Saturday Night Live, Deadwood, Cosmos, Vogue, Vanity Fair and Comic Con, to name just a few! We work very hard, with patience and a smile, to make our customer's jobs run as smooth as possible.

KURT COX, Uniform Specialist

Before joining the Western Costume family eighteen years ago, Kurt’s eclectic background included riding horses in films, making saddles, and a brief stint in advertising. Kurt has authored several books on 19th century military uniforms, as well as magazine articles on the subject. He has also served as a consultant to the Autry Museum and Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and curated museum displays of military uniforms at both museums.

At Western, Kurt keeps abreast of all military and civilian regulations and uniform changes. “I’m constantly trying to find what’s new and correct, “ he says. “We try to be as accurate as we can. Every cop and military uniform is as authentic as possible, from boot soles to handmade epaulets to helmets. Our goal is for you to look at a guy, and you don’t know if he’s in a movie or if he’s real.”

JACK KASBARIAN, Head Tailor

Head Tailor Jack Kasbarian, a native of Lebanon, learned his craft at a cousin’s tailor shop before moving to this country. He began his career as a coat maker at Frank Hoffer Tailoring, a prestigious Rodeo Drive bespoke shop.

Jack joined the Western Costume family twenty-seven years ago. His skills span centuries and can be seen in period films like “Hidalgo” and Disney’s “The Alamo.” Jack also crafted and supervised the building of coats and suits for the Harrison Ford film “42.” He has a special fondness for building coats. “I like to work on period suits, tailcoats, and tuxedos,” he says. “It’s challenging. And not too many people can do it.”

Leighton Bowers, Research Library & Archive

From a 5th grade paper on Civil War uniforms to a college term paper on Elizabethan sumptuary laws, Leighton has be doing costume research as long as she can remember. After graduating from Grinnell College with a BA in History, she went on to earn an MFA in Costume Design from UCLA, during which time she worked as a research assistant to Deborah Nadoolman Landis on her book Dressed: A Century of Hollywood Costume Design. She subsequently worked as an Assistant Costume Designer on feature films, including Captain America: The First Avenger and Goosebumps, before coming to work at Western Costume in 2014.

CHRISTINA MUNOZ, Supervisor, Womens Stock

In 2004, Christina left Make-Believe, a small company that catered mainly to the public, and joined Western Costume. She began as a regular stock person - filing, pulling, and sizing clothes. When her predecessor departed, Christina was the logical choice to run the department.

Christina takes meticulous care of her collection and has streamlined Women’s Stock, making it a breeze for costumers to pull whatever they need. “I labeled everything and made it user-friendly,” she explains. “I’ve color-coded each decade so costumers know where to find each piece.”

The hit TV series “Mad Men” shows the beautiful results of Christina’s labors, as do the recent movies “Django Unchained” and “Dark Shadows.” Christina also handles all the Halloween rentals at Western.

MAURICIO OSORIO, Custom Shoes

Mauricio Osorio, a master leather artisan, brought his extraordinary skills to Western Costume over thirty years ago. A native of El Salvador, shoemaking is a family tradition for Mauricio – his grandfather, father, and five brothers all share the same trade.

Mauricio trained at his family’s shoe factory for five years, then immigrated to America in 1973. He worked at a number of shoe factories before joining the Western Costume family in 1978. Mauricio can make anything in leather - from shoes and boots, to belts, handbags, and dresses. This talented artist can even make metal armor and jewelry.

Though piecework is customary in modern shoemaking, Mauricio’s shoes are constructed as one complete process which is what makes Western Costume’s world-class Custom Shoe department so unique. Mauricio and his team can take a pair of shoes from sketch to street. Their footwear has been featured in films like “True Grit,” “Cowboys and Aliens,” and “Captain America.” Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp and Shaquille “Shaq” O’Neill are just a few of the lucky stars shod by Mauricio and company.

“Every customer is different and my goal is to make each one happy,” says Mauricio.

Phone: 818 760 0900 or Fax: 818 508 2190. You may also get in touch with us via email at

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